Wanting a smaller board than my current loooong board (12ft)
I put a deposit on a second hand Ben Aipia big boy stinger at 8'4 x23x3/3'4
It will feel quite radical in size wise going that small,But I'm hoping I can surf some bigger waves and be able to duck dive it to get out.
Have I made the right choice?
Is it concided a long short board as there is long board shapes that are 8ft ?
XXL Hazza (6'2 x120KG)
Wow,I'd call it a big boys mid size ripper
Massive difference in length and it will take some
getting used too[}:)]
But it will float you and imo it will be as loose as a goose
Have you made the right choice 
yep if you wanted a ripper[}:)]
Let us know how she goes hazza,I am sure there are other big boy's
like myself who would be very interested,oh we need photos of this
weapon
Good morning all 
Hey mate sounds like your on a shortbaord to me...the differnce between a short board and longboard these days is more about out line and rocker IMO. 7S do a big guys shorty 8'0...there are a heap of guys in the states making King Size fishes and you see guys in Hawaii riding 8'+ boards and hacking the shizzer out of it...I was about 110 kegs (down to about 100) and I ride a 7'0 x 21 x 2 3/8 seems to go OK for me.....
Here it is
Cracking board, the 7' 4" is great as well. Old school stuff, I'd class it as a big bloke's shortie.
I will always ride my 12fter, too much fun not to.
It's those days when i'ts cranking 4-5 feet and I froth to get out but I know my gear is not ideal for pitching waves.( I have learned the hard way)I should of been trying to ease slowly into a shorter board,but the duck diving will still be a issue with a longer board. It's not fun getting trolled like a lure after a big set dumping, with more sets on the horizon.
XXL Hazza
3 3/4 thick?? are you sure its not a SUP? Good luck duck diving an 8ft board with that sort of volume
Yes that's what I have been told.
When I started surfing I had a 9'6x23x3 that I could push under,been glass board
it left some wicked dings from the knee.
XXL Hazza
I have an 8' board I cannot duck dive. You will need to get down to the mid 7' if duck diving is important to you.
I have a mate who is a bit more solid than me and can duck dive a 7'0. I have never been good at the duck dive, even when I rode the shorter boards. I ride a 9'6 and give it the eskimo roll or get under the wash and hold the board by the leash connector to stop it hitting someone, or if no one is in reach I push it away and get under it as quickly as possible and wait for the drag ha ha.
I agree that over 9'0 is a longboard. Thats how it is in comps isnt it? In between 7'0 and 9'0 is a funboard/mini mal. Seen some quad 8'0 at a comp a few months ago, they were bieng thrown around like you wouldnt believe. Looked fun...all the paddle of a mal with shredding capabilities of a S/board.
I duck dive my 9'6" okish the way i do it is to tilt the board on its side, say 30-45 degrees, and then scoop it under then flatten it out. It allows you to get the nose under and then pull your self thru the wave. Ok in waist to head high waves anything over and to much white water and its not as effective.
I am the same weight as you (120kgs) and my smallest board is a 6'2" fish 2" thick and 23-24" wide so you should be right on the 8'er and I think the Apia stinger would handle bigger swell better than a fat tailed fish. I use to have a len dibben 8'er bonzer bottom that he pulled the nose in on and had a pin tail that was a great bigger wave board and also capable of duck diving, but obviously not as good as a short board.
I remember coming back down to a short board after 4-5 years mal ridding, it felt like I was a complete kook (ok I probally still am) all over again but within a day it was fine...Enjoy your board.
With this weekend swell, looks like I'll be sweeping the water
Hopefully I'll pick up the board during the week and see how we go.
SHunter how the hell do you ride such a small stick?
Once I paddled my kids 6ft foamy and it felt like I was molesting the little board
XXL hazza
. Its width helps and with the fish shape the width is carried into the noise and tail, the width helps stability. The width along with a flatish rocker means that it gets up and planes quick. So even though I sit out the back with the water up to my nipples a few strokes and its up on the plane not that slower to paddle and get onto waves than my 6'6" fish. even at my weight. Sure its not the best tool in the shed and its not something I would jump on straight after ridding a mal, I progressed to it after a good solid year on the 6'6" fish. But its fun to try different stuff and its good to challenge yourself every now and then and stops me from becomming a lazy paddler...
Great work mate
You have given me hope ,and have inspired me with your board building skills.
XXL hazza
Hey Shunter Wicked boards
IMO hazza, to your Q yeh i think you have made the right choice going from a 12 fter to a mid 8 , long as your fit enough to make the wave you will crap with the flexibility of a shorter board, BUT dont know about ducking it like a shorter board.
I believ the 9 fter is easier to manage in good barreling waves cause it has more board speed to get through the break. Pop it when confronted and go , where the 7 or 8 ft board is slower and ya cant (i cant) really get the advantage of duck diving like a shorter board.
summary = 8 fter is gunna be great on some days.
Boys I KOOKed it today on the Ben Apia.
I had the wobbles paddling out ,the board wanted to pop out from under my weight.
Did get it to duck dive but not deep(technic issue).Did feel nice holding a smaller board,but I don't think my size and ability is ready for such a dramatic change so quickly.
I did notice a MC whale fish 8'2x26x3.5 I will do some research tonight and see what I'll come up with.Looks like I will be Gliding for some time with the 12fter.
I haven't got the time to shape that log that I have been meaning to do .
In other words what I want to do is,
1 GLIDE 12 ft
2 Nose ride 10'6
3 shread 8'4
I thing I'm going mental
XXL hazza
